Customer Reviews

Seeker, The: A Novel

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Story Description:

Charlotte Vance is a young woman who knows what she wants. But when the man she planned to marry joins the Shakers - a religious group that does not allow marriage - she is left dumbfounded. And when her father brings home a new wife who is young enough to be Charlotte's sister, it is more than she can bear. With the country - and her own household - on the brink of civil war, this pampered gentlewoman hatches a plan to avoid her new stepmother and win back her man by joining the Shaker community at Harmony Hill. Little does she know that this decision will lead her down a road of unforeseen consequences.

Ann H. Gabhart brings alive the strikingly different worlds of the Southern gentry; the simple Shakers, and the ravages of war in 1860's Kentucky to weave a touching story of love, freedom, and forgiveness.

My Review:

Charlotte Vance's fiancé, Edwin Gibley, announces that he is going to join the `Shaker's up in Harmony Hill. The Shakers "originated in England in the eighteenth century. Its leader, a woman named Ann Lee, was believed by her followers to be the second coming of Christ in female form. The Shaker doctrines of celibacy, communal living, and the belief that perfection could be attained in this life were all based on revelations that Mother Ann claimed to have divinely received. The name Shaker's came from the very way they worshipped at times when a member received the "spirit", he or she would begin shaking all over".

Charlotte just couldn't believe Edwin would give up a life of being married to her to live as a single man in an odd religious society. They were to be wed next month in May. As if this wasn't bad enough news, Charlotte's father arrives home after time away escorting a new wife on his arm! And, she had to be at least 20 years younger than her father. Yes, Selena Harley Black was to be the new mistress of Grayson.

As Charlotte stood outside in the night air watching her father's home-coming party through the window, she was trying hard to convince Edwin to give up his ridiculous idea of joining the Shaker community. But, Edwin had heard enough from Charlotte and went back to the party leaving her alone in the darkness when suddenly a male voice said: "He must be an extremely foolish man to turn his back and run from such a beauty" Charlotte was startled and whipped round to find a tall, dark handsome man who introduced himself as Adam Wade, an artist who was commissioned to paint a wedding portrait of the new Mrs. Vance. Was painting the new Mrs. Vance all that Mr. Wade would be involved in at the Grayson Estate?

This was a spell-binding piece of historical fiction set in the 1800's. The characters were well-developed and I felt myself feeling the emotions of each character. I found the Shaker doctrines to be interesting and gleaned a lot of information about this old but odd order. Good reading!

The Seeker by Ann H Gabhart is a book about Charlotte Vance, a strong willed young woman set in Kentucky in the 1860's. Charlotte has her whole life planned out for her. Who she will marry, the land she will inherit, the path she will go. Until her father brings home a new wife and her life begins to fall apart at the seems. In a desperate attempt to escape her "step-mother's" clutches and win back her beau, Charlotte joins the local Shaker community. Although this is a historical fiction, Ann Gabhart lives just 30 miles from a restored Shaker village in Kentucky and therefore brings a lot of truth and an edge of history to the novel.

What I loved about this book: The Seeker was fascinating to me because I had never heard of the Shakers. To be honest, when I saw the white cap on the front image, I was sure it was an Amish story. The Shaker's fascinated me. I found this story incredibly believable. The characters were believable. Charlotte is believable. It is not a perfect story, it is a hard story that I believe depicts life in a more natural life. Love is not portrayed as easy or taken for granted. It is a realistic, interesting, and very satisfying read. I loved the ending. This book is not predictable.

What I didn't love about this book: It is hard to come up with any criticism for this book as I enjoyed it so much. You definitely have to be a fan of historical christian romance to enjoy this book. This book is no epic that will change your life, but it is an enjoyable and interesting read.

Overall, I would recommend The Seeker if you like the category. It is a great book for a rainy day or to give as a gift.

**I received this book free of charge through Baker Publishing Group

Charlotte Vance has her whole life planned out. She will marry Edwin Gilbey and thus combine their two great properties. It would not be a marriage of love, but Charlotte is determined that is the way things are going to be. That is, till Edwin comes up with an idea of his own - to join the Shakers. Charlotte's world crashes down around her with her father's surprise marriage, the crumbling of her own dreams, and the arrival of an artist named Adam Wade. Will Charlotte have the courage to do the unexpected? Will she lose her beloved home to her stepmother's schemes? Can she save her "people" from being sold down river? Will she ever be able to sort out her feelings about the Shakers, Edwin and Adam?

Ann Gabhart takes us into the heart of Kentucky as it teeters on the edge of the Civil War. This story gives an interesting look at the war and the life of the peaceful Shakers and their strange doctrine. Personally, I was a little disappointed in this story. It didn't grab me the way that some other books do. Still, if you like Amish fiction, you will probably enjoy The Seeker.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Book Review:

The Seeker

By Ann H. Gabhart

When I started to read this book, I knew very little about the Shaker faith- as they no longer exist. Upon finishing the first page of Chapter One, I had already become aware of some of their beliefs- celebacy- no marriage. Although it is fiction, there are many facts that were interesting. It is an education in the beliefs of the Shakers as well as a story about living in a Shaker community and what it involves.

Charlotte, the main character, is preparing for her upcoming marriage, when her fiance decides to join the Shakers- NOT allowing marrriage! You feel her dismay and her agony as you read through the book. She then encounters many other problems- her father brings home a new wife who is young enough to be her sister. Both her household and her country are in a state of disarray- the country being on the brink of Civil War.

Ann keeps your attention throughout the book, having Charlotte join the Shaker community to try to gain back her fiance. Little does she know that this decision will lead her to unforeseen consequences. Unexpected events constantly keep your attention.

Love blooms in a most unexpected way. Charlotte is a Southern Belle in war-torn Kentucky who succeeds in her quest for love - in most surprising circumstances.

An excellent read, definitely a page-turner to the very end!!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller from Revell,a division of Baker Publishing Group."